What was the social structure of Virginia?

Answer 1

The social structure of Virginia during the colonial period was hierarchical and heavily influenced by the plantation economy. At the top were wealthy plantation owners, often of English descent, who controlled land and resources, followed by a middle class of small farmers and artisans. Below them were indentured servants, who worked for a set period in exchange for passage to America, and at the bottom were enslaved Africans, who were forced into labor without rights. This stratification created a distinct social hierarchy based on wealth, land ownership, and race.